Aerospace Testing InternationalAerospace Testing International
  • News
    • A-E
      • Acoustic & Vibration
      • Avionics
      • Data Acquisition
      • Defense
      • Drones & Air Taxis
      • Electric & Hybrid
      • EMC
      • Engine Testing
      • Environmental Testing
    • F-L
      • Fatigue Testing
      • Flight Testing
      • Helicopters & Rotorcraft
      • High Speed Imaging
      • Industry News
    • M-S
      • Materials Testing
      • NDT
      • Simulation & Training
      • Software
      • Space
      • Structural Testing
      • Supplier News
    • T-Z
      • Technology
      • Telemetry & Communications
      • Weapons Testing
      • Wind Tunnels
  • Features
  • Magazines
    • March 2025
    • Dec 2024/Jan 2025
    • Showcase 2025
    • September 2024
    • June 2024
    • Archive Issues
    • Subscribe Free!
  • Opinion
  • Webinars
  • Events
    • All Events
    • Aerospace Test & Development Show
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Suppliers
    • Supplier Spotlights
    • Press Releases
    • Technical Papers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job – It’s FREE!
    • Manage Jobs (Employers)
LinkedIn YouTube X (Twitter)
LinkedIn YouTube X (Twitter)
Subscribe to magazine Subscribe to email newsletter Media Pack
Aerospace Testing InternationalAerospace Testing International
  • News
      • Acoustic & Vibration
      • Avionics
      • Data Acquisition
      • Defense
      • Drones & Air Taxis
      • Electric & Hybrid
      • EMC
      • Engine Testing
      • Environmental Testing
      • Fatigue Testing
      • Flight Testing
      • Helicopters & Rotorcraft
      • High Speed Imaging
      • Industry News
      • Materials Testing
      • NDT
      • Simulation & Training
      • Software
      • Space
      • Structural Testing
      • Supplier News
      • Technology
      • Telemetry & Communications
      • Weapons Testing
      • Wind Tunnels
  • Features
  • Magazines
    1. March 2025
    2. Dec 2024/Jan 2025
    3. Showcase 2025
    4. September 2024
    5. June 2024
    6. March 2024
    7. Archive Issues
    8. Subscribe Free!
    Featured
    19th March 2025

    In this issue: March 2025

    Online Magazines By Ben Sampson
    Recent

    In this issue: March 2025

    19th March 2025
    contents and front cover of magazine

    In this issue: December / January 2025

    19th December 2024
    Showcase 2025

    In this issue – Showcase 2025

    6th November 2024
  • Opinion
  • Webinars
  • Events
    • All Events
    • Aerospace Test & Development Show
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • Suppliers
    • Supplier Spotlights
    • Press Releases
    • Technical Papers
  • Jobs
    • Browse Jobs
    • Post a Job – It’s FREE!
    • Manage Jobs (Employers)
LinkedIn YouTube X (Twitter)
Aerospace Testing InternationalAerospace Testing International
Defense Electric & Hybrid Structural Testing

Alia eVTOL receives US Air Force airworthiness approval

Ben SampsonBy Ben Sampson6th May 20213 Mins Read
Share LinkedIn Twitter Facebook Email

Testing of Beta Technologies Alia eVTOL aircraft by the US Air Force is to begin after the first airworthiness approval for a manned electric aircraft was awarded to the company.

The Alia is an eVTOL aircraft that can carry six people up to 290 miles (460km) and has a cruise speed of  170mph (270km/h). The aircraft has been in development since 2017 and has first customer deliveries scheduled for 2024.

The airworthiness award from the US Air Force is the latest milestone in Beta’s test program after it entered its next phase of flight testing. The next step will see a contract signed in June which will give the US Air Force access to the Alia and eVTOL flight simulators located in Washington, D.C. and Springfield, Ohio.

The US Air Force’s approval involved its personnel and experts evaluating the aircraft’s design and maintenance requirements along with the company’s operations and flight test plans.

Beta Technologies test pilot Camron Guthrie said, “US Air Force engineers spent more than a year examining the Alia aircraft, evaluating its design and flight capabilities against the demanding MIL-HDBK-516C standard,”

The US Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) will test the Alia eVTOL under its Agility Prime “flying car” technology program. AFRL engineers will first use their equipment and facilities to conduct structural testing of the Alia aircraft.

During March an Alia test aircraft completed an interstate flight Beta’s test facility at an airport in Plattsburgh, New York to the company’s headquarters near Burlington International Airport, Vermont.

The same month, Beta’s flight test program set a new record for range and altitude for Alia, of 150 miles (240km) and 8,000ft.

Kyle Clark, Beta’s founder and CEO said, “Electric aviation is a National Security priority and fortunately this was recognized early by the Air Force. The speed and efficiency of the Air Force Agility Prime program to support sustainable electric aviation has been remarkable.

“The people and expertise that the Air Force has brought to the electric aviation industry and specifically our Alia program is accelerating the development of incredibly capable, safe and reliable aircraft.”

eVTOL simulator
BETA’s ALIA a simulator in BETA’s Washington, D.C. facility is a fully immersive eVTOL flight simulator and training facility (Image: Beta)

Beta’s simulation and training facilities will enable Air Force pilots and engineers to rehearse and test the Alia aircraft in a variety of potential mission sets and scenarios. The advanced urban air mobility technology simulators are physics based and include weather, emergency handling, and mission scenarios with multiple aircraft.

Beta has recently added to its customer list agreements with urban air mobility provider Blade and delivery firm UPS for Alia and charging stations.


Related Stories

The technical challenges still to be solved before eVTOLs can become air taxis

eVTOL developer backs hybrid propulsion technology for extra range

Wisk files lawsuit against competitor eVTOL developer Archer

Share. Twitter LinkedIn Facebook Email
Previous ArticleFirms agree on engine development plan for Europe’s Next-Generation Fighter
Next Article Video: Royal Marines test jet suit
Ben Sampson

Ben has worked as a journalist and editor, covering technology, engineering and industry for the last 20 years. Initially writing about subjects from nuclear submarines to autonomous cars to future design and manufacturing technologies, he was editor of a leading UK-based engineering magazine before becoming editor of Aerospace Testing in 2017.

Related Posts

Electric & Hybrid

FAA approves certification basis for Ampaire’s hybrid-electric propulsion system

15th May 20253 Mins Read
Electric & Hybrid

ZeroAvia and RVL Aviation to launch UK hydrogen-electric cargo flights

14th May 20253 Mins Read
Defense

T-7A Red Hawk completes successful Escape System Sled Test

8th May 20252 Mins Read
Latest Posts

Industry Adoption of 3D Optical Surface Gauges

21st May 2025

NDT: Robotics and software spur innovation

21st May 2025

Wisk and NASA to partner on US autonomous flight operations and standards

20th May 2025
Supplier Spotlights
Our Social Channels
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
Getting in Touch
  • Subscribe To Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Meet the Team
  • Media Pack
Related Topics
  • Aircraft Interiors
  • Business Jet Interiors
FREE WEEKLY NEWS EMAIL!

Get the 'best of the week' from this website direct to your inbox every Wednesday

© 2023 Mark Allen Group Ltd | All Rights Reserved
  • Cookie Policy
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.